Dastardly Dynamic Dexter

I'm not sure what I can say about this book that you probably have not heard already.

This is just plain fun to read, which might sounds like an odd comment to make considering the books content. But I can't help it, Dexter's first person narrative is funny as hell. I think I might actually get more laughs out of Jeff Linday's anti-hero than I do a Terry Pratchett novel. Which is no small feat.

The premise, for those of you who have been under a rock since Dexter went big and landed a series on Showtime, is simple. Dexter spends his days masquerading as a regular human being but at night, when the moon is full, he becomes Dexter the Dark Avenger. A serial killer with a twist. He has ethics. Honed by his step-Father into a weapon of justice Dexter only kills the true villains of the world in order to slake his thirst for killing and appease the Dark Passenger, the voice inside his head.

'Dearly Devoted Dexter' is the second book in the series, the third book was released a few months back. It picks up shortly after the end of the first novel and few repercussions of that story are having a profound effect on our favorite anti-hero. He's being watched, stalked some might say, by a cop who thinks he knows what Dexter is up to. So Dexter has to delve more deeply into his disguise as a human being and that means spending more and more time with Rita, his girlfriend who serves as a nice cover to his homicidal tendencies. But when a gruesome crime scene is discovered it will force Dexter into the last role he ever suspected to be put in - the Hero.

My favorite parts of this book, like the previous one, are the scenes with Dexter interacting with Rita and her children Astor and Cody. Something about these scenes I just find captivating. Since Dexter, who believes himself to not be human because of the things he does, has a terrible time trying to understand Rita who he admits he is only using to convey the image of a regular human being. These scenes where Dexter tries to understand emotion. something he doesn't feel, are remarkable because they force the reader to examine their own feeling and emotions in similar situations. Very well written by Mr. Lindsay.

The plot of the story is very good and engaging as well. I don't want to talk to much about it for fear of potentially ruining some good shock moments.

If I were to have one complaint it would be a minor one. Dexter's Step-Sister Deborah. She is a fucking bitch in big chunks of the book. Part me me understands her feelings towards a lot of things happening in the book but her attitude to Dexter, to me, is manipulative and slightly abusive. If my sister talked to me like Deb does to Dex, helping her solve crimes would not be high on my list of priorities.

But part me wonders if I only feel that way because I just plain like Dexter and whole-heartily approve of what he does. Dexter doesn't weep for the killing of pedophiles and rapists and neither do I.

Having read the second novel I now feel that I'm ready to watch the DVD's of season 1. I hope to talk about that here soon.

In the meantime go buy Jeff Lidsay's awesome series. We all could use a little Dexter in our lives... unless you are a bad person. You're not a bad person are you?